TRYING A WOMAM'S NERVES.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1289, 27 August 1883, Page 2

TRYING A WOMAM'S NERVES.

♦ A tall lady, with a saturnine, countenance, went into the Chronicle office recently, and demanded of the reporters if Viriginia offered a good field for a series of a dozen lectures on woman's suffrage. "I don't think the Comstockers have thought much about female suffrage," replied the reporter frankly. " Don't say female," said the tall lady, sharply. " Why not?" asked the reporter, in innocent surprise. " Because, sir, a term that is used to describe sex in animals should not be applied to woman." The reporter admitted, in great humiliation, that the point was well taken, and looked up in some alarm at the severe countenance of the lady, who was a head taller than himself, and manifestly able to thrash him in the interest of progress, if so disposed. The stern countenance fastened somewhat at the signs of confessed inferitority, however, and the lady continued : — " The cause of woman is the cause of humanity. The cause of humanity embraces all progress. Why, then, should the people of Virginia be indifferent to woman ?" " They're not," cried the small reporter, hastily. "Far from it. Woman is the boss in this camp. Everything she wants she gets, and not one in a hundred has to do a lick of work." " Mere toys," said the tall one, with deep scorn. Playthings for an idle hour. You cover woman with silks and sink her soul into insignifiance by circumscribing her sphere, and allowing her no mission in life." " Well," admitted the small reporter, " that's about the way we look at it up here, that's a fact. Women hav'nt got the nerve to rastle for themselves, like men." " Ner-r-r-ve !" She uttered this word in a terrific tone, so terrific that the small reporter half rose from his chair. "Nerve! w,hat is there requiring nerve that you do that I am incapable of?" F "No offence, madame no offence. I meant nothing personal, 1 assure you." "Am I not stronger than you?" she demanded, scorning an apology. Am I not gifted with as great a brain ? Why do you despise my sex ?We can bear more pain and* are therefore your superiors in courage." The small reporter was gazing fixedly at a dark corner of the room, and made no answer. " Nerve, indeed ! " continued the tall lady ; " why, women have infinitely more nerve than men. Only yesterday I saw a woman-; — " " That's the biggest rat I ever saw in the office," said the small reporter, staring, intently at tlm dark corner. The screams that rent the air brought all the printers and several citizens from the street. When they arrived the tall one was standing on a chair with one hand covering her eyes and the other convulsively clutching at her skirts as she gathered them close around her. The small reporter wisley took advantage of the crowd to slip out, and , he telegraphed from the Gold Hill i that he was going down to Carson to , work up a big item. — Virginia City , (Nevada) Chronicle. <